PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kosta Ivanoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kunilinger Ebalajtung (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kunilinger Ebalajtung is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ivanoff
vs
Ebalajtung

186 cm
20
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
20
221 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kosta Ivanoff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kunilinger Ebalajtung!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Ivanoff as Ebalajtung shoots in.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ivanoff looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice sprawl there from Ivanoff as Ebalajtung shoots in.

Ivanoff bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ivanoff happy to just control the position for now.
Ebalajtung can't do much from the bottom here.
Ivanoff trying to control the action but Ebalajtung is working from the bottom.
Ivanoff landing a few strikes.
Ivanoff controls the position from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ebalajtung takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Ivanoff misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Ebalajtung is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ivanoff is controlling him well.
Ivanoff working away.

Ivanoff stands up and beckons Ebalajtung to his feet.
Ebalajtung swats away the attempt to clinch by Ivanoff.
Ivanoff tries to bum rush Ebalajtung with a series of wild strikes but Ebalajtung uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Ivanoff rushes Ebalajtung and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ebalajtung is trying to break the clinch but Ivanoff has him pressed against the cage.
Ivanoff fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Ivanoff manages to break the clinch.
Ebalajtung shoots in and drives through. Ivanoff sprawls well.
Kosta Ivanoff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kunilinger Ebalajtung.
Ivanoff misses with a two punch combination.
Ebalajtung doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ivanoff counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ebalajtung looks gassed!
Ebalajtung shoots in but no luck this time.
Ivanoff has a takedown stuffed.
Ebalajtung with a poor takedown

and Ivanoff counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ebalajtung's guard now.
Ebalajtung is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ivanoff tries to free his leg and advance position but Ebalajtung is retaining full guard.

Ebalajtung looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanoff is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ebalajtung is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ebalajtung is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ebalajtung misses with a takedown

and Ivanoff counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ebalajtung wants to control but Ivanoff postures up.

Ivanoff stands up.
Ebalajtung lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ivanoff circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice takedown defense from Ivanoff. No joy for Ebalajtung on that attempt.
Ebalajtung is looking to clinch but Ivanoff is avoiding it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ebalajtung fails with a takedown attempt.
Ivanoff tries to clinch up

and Ebalajtung counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kosta Ivanoff dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ebalajtung shoots in for a double leg but Ivanoff sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Ebalajtung closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ivanoff is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ebalajtung's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ivanoff is trying to stand.
Ivanoff wants to improve his position but Ebalajtung is controlling well.
Ebalajtung thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ivanoff's head.
Ebalajtung looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ivanoff with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ebalajtung thows a huge punch but Ivanoff dodges it nicely.
Ebalajtung stops Ivanoff from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ebalajtung wants to stand up but Ivanoff has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ivanoff on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ebalajtung. Ebalajtung obviously looking to wear him down.
Ebalajtung shoots and misses

and Ivanoff counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Ivanoff is looking for a kimura but Ebalajtung is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ivanoff to get the leverage.
Ivanoff with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ivanoff seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ebalajtung for as long as he can get away with.
Ivanoff trying to control from half guard but Ebalajtung is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ebalajtung punching from the bottom.
Ebalajtung trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ebalajtung is looking to get back to is feet but Ivanoff passes into side control.
Ebalajtung throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Ebalajtung struggling a bit here.
Ebalajtung is trying to get back to half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ivanoff tries to clinch but Ebalajtung is having none of it.
Ebalajtung is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ebalajtung gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ivanoff counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kosta Ivanoff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kunilinger Ebalajtung.
Ebalajtung with a poor takedown
and Ivanoff counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ebalajtung tries to clinch there but Ivanoff circles away.
Ebalajtung swats away the attempt to clinch by Ivanoff.

Ivanoff drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Ebalajtung is trying to control Ivanoff's posture but Ivanoff avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanoff is staying tight to Ebalajtung's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Ebalajtung is looking for a sweep.
Ebalajtung is pushing Ivanoff's head away, looking to escape. Ivanoff manages to hold on to the position though.
Ebalajtung is looking to regain half guard here but Ivanoff keeps moving and retains side control.

Ivanoff decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Ebalajtung swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kosta Ivanoff dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jab by Ivanoff.
Ivanoff tries to clinch up.
Ebalajtung shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ivanoff counters with a stiff right hand.
Ivanoff defending well as Ebalajtung loads up on a big left hand.
Ebalajtung looks for a takedown but Ivanoff sprawls well.
A jab from Ivanoff finds it's way through Ebalajtung's defenses.
Ivanoff's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Ivanoff duly obliges.

Ivanoff moves into the clinch.
Ebalajtung has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ivanoff avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kosta Ivanoff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kunilinger Ebalajtung.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ivanoff lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ebalajtung backwards.

Ivanoff breaks from the clinch.

Ebalajtung gets caught flat footed, as Ivanoff shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanoff stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ebalajtung swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ivanoff pushes down on Ebalajtung's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ivanoff wants to stand up but Ebalajtung is controlling the position.
Ivanoff wants to pass the guard but Ebalajtung is defending well.
Ebalajtung wants to get back to his feet.
Ivanoff is taking a breather. Ebalajtung says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ebalajtung trying to control here.
Ivanoff tries to pass to full mount but Ebalajtung defends it.
Ivanoff wants to control but Ebalajtung is keeping him busy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ebalajtung shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ivanoff counters with a shoot takedown. Ebalajtung fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ebalajtung keeping moving, preventing Ivanoff from controlling successfully.
Ivanoff is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ebalajtung not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Ivanoff decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ebalajtung, up you get!

Ivanoff closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ivanoff wants to take a breather but Ebalajtung is having none of it.
Ebalajtung is trying to stand back up but Ivanoff is controlling him

Ebalajtung looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanoff wants to control but Ebalajtung is keeping him busy.
Ivanoff controlling the action here.
Ivanoff is looking to take a break and control but Ebalajtung is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ivanoff is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Kosta Ivanoff is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Ebalajtung is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ivanoff pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kosta Ivanoff showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ivanoff has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kosta Ivanoff!